Campaigner who was sent to Tuam mother and baby home at 13 dies aged 86

Olivia Kelleher

Funeral arrangements have been announced for Rosaleen ‘Rosie’ McKinney, an 86-year-old mother and baby home campaigner who died in the Mater Hospital in Dublin on New Year’s Day following a short illness.

A survivor of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home, Ms McKinney of Cabra told the Irish Examiner in 2021 that women in her position were “treated like animals.”

She said that she lost the hearing in her right ear from a beating she got from a nun.

Ms McKinney added that the revelation that some 796 children are missing in Tuam, some buried in a disused sewerage system, was a source of horror to her.

“How could the nuns be so cruel? They’re supposed to work for God, and look what they did to mothers and their babies," she said.

A native of Dunmore in Co Galway where she was the youngest in a family of nine, Rosie had two babies as a teenager in the St Mary’s Home in Tuam.

Five years of her life were spent there and in the Galway Magdalene laundry.

Both of her children were adopted. Ms McKinney was just 13 years old when she first was sent to a mother and baby home.

Her death notice reads that Ms McKinney will be “very sadly missed” and remembered with love by her daughter Margaret, step son Tony, grandchildren Paul and Tegan, relatives, neighbours and friends.

She will lie in repose at the family home on Sunday (January 5th) between 5pm and 8pm.

Her removal will take place on Monday to Christ the King Church, Cabra arriving for 10am mass, followed by cremation in Glasnevin Crematorium.

Mourners have been asked to donate to the Christ the King Day Centre in lieu of flowers.